Shaun
Uttarkashi Cloudburst Live: At least five people died, and several others went missing after a cloudburst triggered flash floods in Uttarkashi’s Dharali area on Tuesday. Rescue teams from the police, Army, NDRF, and SDRF were deployed. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami cut short his Andhra Pradesh visit and returned to Dehradun to review the situation at the State Emergency Operation Centre. He said 130 people stranded in affected areas had been shifted to safer locations, and instructions were issued for immediate food, shelter and medical aid. Additional Army helicopters have been requested to speed up rescue efforts. Schools and educational institutions remain closed in multiple districts. Follow indiatoday.in for all Live Updates.
A day after the devastating cloudburst in Uttarkashi’s Dharali village, families of the missing are clinging to hope amid uncertain rescue conditions. Mahendra Chauhan, one of those affected due to the disaster, met with Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Wednesday and shared his anguish over the situation.
“CM Dhami has assured that very soon heli services will be started so that people can be rescued from the spot. My sister, her husband and their child have been missing since yesterday. After this incident, I have not been able to speak to them,” Chauhan said while speaking to news agency.
This infographic from India Today Data Intelligence Unit shows the percentage departure in rainfall across Uttarakhand districts over the last five days (August 1–6, 2025). Bageshwar recorded the highest excess rainfall at 397% above normal, followed by Haridwar (330%) and Tehri Garhwal (157%).
More than 50 people have been reported missing following a cloudburst in Uttarkashi district, Mohsen Shahedi, DIG of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), said during a press conference on Wednesday. Flash floods were triggered in two locations — Harsil and Sukhi Top — with around 11 Army personnel reportedly missing in Harsil alone. However, no casualties have been reported from Sukhi Top so far.
The Rishikesh-Uttarkashi Highway has been severely impacted, slowing down rescue operations. Several road blockages have hampered the movement of emergency teams, making it difficult to access affected areas. Shahedi added that NDRF teams stationed in Dehradun are on standby and ready to airlift stranded or injured individuals if the need arises.
In a gripping radio message from the heart of Uttarkashi’s flood-hit zone, Colonel Harshvardhan, Commanding Officer of the 14th Rajputana Rifles, alerted the Indian Army headquarters about the intensity of rescue operations underway in Dharali village following a devastating landslide and flash floods triggered by a monster cloudburst on Tuesday afternoon.
Uttarakhand has recorded excess rainfall across all districts in less than a week, with some areas logging much more than the normal levels. The map below shows the rainfall departure (%) over the past 24 hours.
Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, and parts of Uttar Pradesh have been receiving heavy rain for the past few days. But why is this so? According to experts, the combined influence of the monsoon trough at the foothills and the upper-level Western Disturbance is driving the persistent and intense rain in Uttarakhand. This process not only increases rainfall amount but also raises the risk of related hazards such as floods and landslides.
Dharali village was ravaged by flash floods on Tuesday. Nestled amidst the majestic Himalayas and on the banks of the Ganga, the quiet hamlet of Dharali is a popular tourist spot and is populated with hotels, resorts and restaurants. It is the main stopover on the way to Gangotri, from where the Ganga originates.
One more body has been recovered from the rubble in flood-ravaged Dharali in Uttarkashi, taking the total death toll to 5, PTI reported. A 150-member Army team is leading the rescue and relief efforts even as incessant rain hindered operations.
One body was recovered from the debris in Uttarakhand’s rain-battered Dharali village on Wednesday, as rescue teams resumed their search for the missing despite continuing rainfall. Prime Minister Narendra Modi dialled Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami to take stock of the situation and assured full support from the Centre.
As authorities race against time to rescue those feared trapped due to flash floods in Uttarakhand, they were dealt a blow as incessant heavy rain washed away a key strategic road connecting Uttarkashi to Dharali and Gangotri.
Visuals captured by India Today reporters at ground zero showed that the entire stretch near the Bhagirathi river caved in, cutting off access to the worst-hit Dharali village. The road collapse has left a rescue team of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) stranded in the area.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Wednesday arrived in Uttarkashi district to take stock of the situation following the devastating cloudburst that struck Dharali village a day earlier. The Chief Minister is scheduled to visit the affected village, where rescue operations are still underway and several people remain missing.
